Gas actuated dehorning tool

ABSTRACT

A gas actuated dehorning tool arrangement having a fixed blade coupled to one end of a pair of parallel rails and a moving blade slidably mounted on the pair of rails and adapted to move from the second end of the pair of rails and pass in horn severing relationship to the fixed blade. A tubular barrel is adjacent the second end of the rails and has a piston slidingly mounted therein. A connecting rod having universal joint connections to the moving blade and to the piston moves the moving blade as the piston is moved. A gas generating means generates a high pressure gas on the back face of the piston to drive the piston and thus the moving blade. The gas generating means incorporates structure for firing a pressure cartridge, which may be similar to a blank cartridge, and provides for simplified removal of an expended cartridge and insertion of a new cartridge.

United States Patent [19] Fleming et al.

1451 Aug. 13, 1974 i GAS ACTUATED DEHORNING TOOL [76] Inventors: Robert W. Fleming, 944 Linda Vista Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91170; George Boothroy, 226 Crest More Dr., Paradise, Calif. 95969 [22] Filed: May 29, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 339,112

Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner.l. C. Peters Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Don B. Finkelstein ABSTRACT A gas actuated dehoming tool arrangement having a fixed blade coupled to one end of a pair of parallel rails and a moving blade slidably mounted on the pair of rails and adapted to move from the second end of the pair of rails and pass in horn severing relationship to the fixed blade. A tubular barrel is adjacent the second end of the rails and has a piston slidingly mounted therein. A connecting rod having universal joint connections to the moving blade and to the piston moves the moving blade as the piston is moved. A gas generating means generates a high pressure gas on the back face of the piston to drive the piston and thus the moving blade. The gas generating means incorporates structure for firing a pressure cartridge, which may be similar to a blank cartridge, and provides for simplified removal of an expended cartridge and insertion of a new cartridge.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTED Am; 1 31914 SHEET 1 OF 2 l IIL PAIENIE ms] 31914 sum '2 [1F 2 GAS ACTUATED DEHORNING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the animal dehorning art and more particularly to an improved gas actuated dehorning tool arrangement.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the process of dehorning animals there have heretofore been utilized several different dehorning structural arrangements. One type of prior art dehorning arrangement is utilization of a saw. Another type of prior art dehorning arrangement is a ring cutter. Both saw and ring cutters, when utilized for dehorning, have not proven completely satisfactory because, in general, they are comparatively slow, cause excessive pain to the animal and the very small particles generated during sawing or ring cutting tended to contaminate the horn cavity and ultimately cause abscesses or have other deleterious effects on the animal.

Another type of prior art dehorning tool is a guillotine type gear driven cutter. Such guillotine type gear driven cutters generally require two men for proper operation and take approximately 3 minutes to sever each horn. Utilization requires considerable strength and thus is very tiring. Additionally, it has been observed that the dehorned animals were often in a state of shock after they were dehorned by such a gear driven guillotine style dehorning tool.

In yet other prior art dehorning arrangements there have been proposed various types of fluid actuated, guillotine type dehorning tools. US. Pat. No. 2,257,245 illustrates a proposed hydraulically actuated dehorning tool and US. Pat. Nos. 2,764,813, 2,766,525 and 2,810,955 all illustrate gas actuated dehorning tools wherein a high pressure gas is provided by an explosive cartridge. Fluid actuated dehorning tools are, of course, desirable since they are rapid acting, require little manual strength to operate and provide a clean severing of the horn. However, known fluid actuated dehorning tools, such as those illustrated in the above-mentioned United States patents, have not proven completely satisfactory in operation. Primarily, one disadvantage of such fluid actuated dehorning tools has been the tendency of the moving blade to bind in the tracks or guides in which it slides. Since the exact shape of the horn to be severed is not uniform from animal to animal nor is it generally known exactly what the shape will be and since the horn could not be precisely aligned in the designed location in the cutting tool, side loading forces were often imposed upon the moving blade. This tended to cause the moving blade to be cocked in the tracks or guides and thus would cause binding of the moving blade and/or the piston mechanism driving the blade. Thus, such fluid actuated dehorning tools have generally not been commercially successful for utilization in large scale operations.

Therefore, there has long been a need for a fluid actuated dehorning tool capable of providing repetitive reliable operation without requiring frequent disassembly, repair, or adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid actuated dehorning tool wherein the dehorning tool can provide reliable repetitive operation, is economical to utilize and fabricate and requires little maintenance or adjustment over extended periods of service operation. It has been found that one of the primary causes for the above-mentioned binding of the moving blade and/or the driving mechanism therefor is the side forces imposed thereon during the horn severing operation. This is induced, primarily, because of the rigid connection between the drive mechanism, such as a piston, and the moving blade. That is, the prior art fluid actuated dehorning tools generally incorporated a rigidly coupled connection, usually through a piston rod, of the piston to the moving blade. Thus, when the moving blade encountered such side forces the blade and/or the drive mechanism, such as the piston, tended to bind in the tracks in which the blade was guided.

In order to overcome this problem, the present invention utilizes a universal joint connection at each end of the connecting rod extending between the piston and the moving blade. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the universal joint is a ball and socket type of connection on both the piston and the moving blade. Therefore, as the moving blade moves down the tracks towards the fixed blade and encounters the horn, the moving blade slides freely in the tracks and any side forces are automatically compensated by the universal joint connections.

Fluid pressure is utilized to actuate the tool and thus fluid pressure is applied against the pressure end of the piston to drive the moving blade towards the fixed blade. The fluid pressure may be derived from any desired source, and in preferred embodiments of the present invention, in order to make the present dehorning tool completely portable, 'it is preferred to utilize a pressure cartridge, which is similar to a blank round, and the necessary firing pin and controls therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other embodiments of the present invention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B is a top plan view, partially in section, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As described-below in greater detail, the present invention contemplates both an improved guillotine type horn severing tool arrangement in which a moving blade passes in horn severing relationship to a fixed blade and a fluid pressure generating means for moving the moving blade into the horn severing relationship to the fixed blade. While the preferred embodiment described below incorporates a pressure cartridge as the source of fluid pressure, it will be appreciated that other types of fluid pressure sources, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, or the like, could equally well be utilized to power the moving blade. Further, the particular pressure cartridge arrangement for generating the high pressure gas for driving the moving blade incorporates certain structural features of a novel and inventive type and the entire pressure cartridge and firing arrangement may equally well be utilized in other types of fluid actuated tools as desired.

As shown in the drawing the preferred embodiment, generally designated 10, is provided witha pair of rail means 12 and 14 in spaced parallel relationship to each other and having a first end 16 and a second end 18. A fixed blade 20 is coupled to the pair of rail means 12 and 14 at the first end 16 thereof and has a cutting edge 22. The cutting edge 22 may, if desired, be formed in the shape of a V having an apex 24 that preferably is rounded on a predetermined radius.

A moving blade 26 is slidingly mounted in the pair of rail means 12 and 14 for reciprocating motion between the first end 16 and second end 18 thereof and is adapted to move in a power stroke direction, indicated by the arrow 28, towards the fixed blade 20 and pass in horn severing relationship thereto. The moving blade 26 may be provided with a cutting edge 30, also in the form of a V" having an apex 32 that is also, preferably, rounded. In the preferred embodimentt of the present invention illustrated in the drawing, the generally V-shaped configuration of the fixed blade 20 and moving blade 26 are opposed. However, it will be appreciated that other configurations of the fixed blade and/r moving blade may be utilized as desired in accordance with the principals of the present invention.

A tubular barrel means 34 is positioned inside a barrel retainer 36 and is coupled to the second end 18 of the track means 12 and 14 by, for example, screw means 38. The tubular barrel means 34 has a first end 40 adjacent the second end 18 of the pair of track means 12 and 14 and the tubular barrel means 34 has a second end 42 spaced therefrom.

A piston 44 is slidingly mounted in fluid tight sealing relationship in the tubular barrel means 34 for reciprocating motion therein between the first end 40 and sec ond end 42 and the piston 44 has a connecting end 46 and a pressure end 48.

A connecting rod 50 extends between the piston 44 and the moving blade 26 and has a first universal joint coupling means 52 for coupling to the moving blade 26 and a second universal joint coupling means 54 are ball and socket type connections.

The moving blade 30 is coupled to a coupling plate 56 by, for example, screw means 58. The ball 60 of the first universal joint coupling means 52 is positioned within a spherical socket in the coupling plate 56 and is retained therein by retainer plate 62 coupled to the coupling plate 58 by, for example, screw means 64.

The ball 70 of the second universal joint coupling means 54 is positioned in a spherical socket of the piston 44 and is retained therein by a retainer bracket 72 that, for example, may threadingly engage the connecting end 46 of the piston 44.

The first universal joint coupling means 52 and second universal joint coupling means 54 thus provide complete force transmission despite misalignments that may occur between the moving blade 26 and the piston 44. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the slots 12a and 14a in the pair of rail means 12 and 14, respectively, in which the moving blade 26 slides, are comparatively loose fitting in order to minimize frictional drag thereon and allow for freedom of movement despite side forces that may be imposed thereon.

A handle means 74 is coupled to first end 16 of the pair of rail means 12 and 14 by, for example, screw means 76 and, preferably, is spaced vertically away from the plane of the fixed blade 20 and moving blade 26 in order to minimize the chance of harm to the utilizer. An energy absorbing means 78 is coupled to the first end 16 of the pair of rail means 12 and 14 on the opposite side of the fixed blade 20 from the cutting edge 22 thereof. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the energy absorbing means 78 comprises a resilient pad means 80 and the resilient pad means 80 engages the moving blade 26 for the condi- -tion of the moving blade 26 having passed in horn severing relationship to the fixed blade 20 to absorb kinetic energy therefrom so that the moving blade 26 is brought to rest.

It has been found that in order to improve the cutting efficiency of the embodiment 10, in some embodiments it may be desired to provide a restraining means to prevent the moving blade 26 from moving in the power stroke direction 28 from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 until a sufficient fluid pressure has built up on the pressure end 48 of the piston 44. In order to achieve this restraint on the moving blade 26, a restraining means, generally designated 82, is coupled to the rail means 12 and, if desired, may also be incorporated in the rail means 14. The restraining means prevents movement of the moving blade 26 in the direction of the arrow 28 by exerting a restraining force thereon that is less than the force associated with a predetermined pressure exerted on the pressure end 48 of the piston 44. The restraining means may, for example, take the form of a ball detent having a ball 84 positioned in a cavity 86 in the rail means 12 and the ball is spring loaded towards the moving blade 26 by spring means 88. The ball 84 is retained in the cavity 86 by a retainer plate 90. A spherical cavityi92 is provided in the moving blade 26 to accept the ball 84 for the condition of the moving blade 26 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the pressure exerted against the pressure end 48 of the piston 44 exceeds the predetermined pressure, the ball 84 is forced upwardly into the cavity 86 allowing the moving blade 26 to move in the direction of the arrow 28. Further, utilization of such a restraining means 82 holds the moving blade 26 in the position shown during movement, transportation and handling of the fluid actuated dehorning tool arrangement 10 to prevent inadvertent damage to the utilizer.

As noted above, fluid pressure is utilized to drive the moving blade 26 in the power stroke direction 28 and into horn severing relationship with the fixed blade 20. In general, the horn that is to be severed is placed in the apex 24 of the fixed blade 22 and sufficient fluid pressure is exerted on the pressure end 48 of the piston 44 to drive the moving blade 26 past the fixed blade 20 to sever the horn. The resilient pad 80 absorbs the kinetic energy from the moving blade 26 and, for convenience, aperatures 94 are provided in the movable blade 26 to allow sliding of the movable blade 26 back to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The fluid pressure generating means, generally designated 100, may be any type of structure for providing a pressurized fluid against the pressure end 48 of the piston 44. As such, it may be a high pressure liquid such as hydraulic fluid operated by on hydraulic actuator, or a high pressure gas. The high pressure gas may be provided from a source of compressed air or other sources of high pressure gas. One preferred form of the fluid pressure generating means 100 is illustrated in the drawing and comprises a gas pressure generating means in which the high pressure fluid generated adjacent the pressure end 48 of the piston 44 is a high pressure gas resulting from the explosive detonation of a pressure cartridge 102. The pressure cartridge 102 is retained in a breach block 104 positioned against the second end 42 of the barrel 34 in substantially gas tight sealing relationship thereto. The breach block 104 has walls 106 defining an aperture 108 comprising a pressure cartridge receiving aperature extending from the first end 110 to the second end 112. As shown, the pressure cartridge receiving aperture 108 communicates with the pressure end 48 of the piston 44 and gas generated by the explosion of the pressure cartridge 102 impinges thereagainst. A breach lock means 114 abuts against the second end 112 of the breach block 104 and is detachably restrained thereagainst, forcing the breach block 104 into the above-mentioned gas tight sealing relationship with the second end 42 of the barrel means 40. A pressure cartridge holder means 116 is removably positionable in a first position adjacent the second end 112 of the breach block 104 and the pressure cartridge 102 is removably coupled to the pressure cartridge holder means for positioning in the pressure cartridge aperture 108 of the breach block 104. A coupling nut 118 threadingly engages the barrel holder 36 and retains the breach lock 114 against the breach block 104 to provide the above-mentioned gas tight sealing relationship with the barrle means 34.

A firing pin 120 is spring loaded by spring means 122 which bears against handle 124 coupled to pressure cartridge holder 116 by screw means 126. Av trip pin 128 is coupled to the firing pin 120 and when the trip pin is moved into the slot 130 of the pressure cartridge holder means 116, spring means 102 drives the firing pin 120 forwardly to explode the pressure cartridge Referring now specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawing, it can be seen that the first end 116' of the pressure cartridge holder means 116 is milled to provide flat faces 116a and ll6b and is provided with walls 132 defining a pressure cartridge receiving aperture 134 therein. The pressure cartridge receiving aperature 134 receives the pressure cartridge 102 which may be come niently positioned therein before firing and removed therefrom after firing, as described below in greater detail.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4 of the drawing it can be seen that the pressure cartridge holder meansll6 is detachably retained in the firing position illustrated in FIG. 2 by a ball plunger means 140 and prevented from rotating from the firing position in the direction indicated by the arrow 142 by stop means 143 which, for example, may be a set screw abutting against the milled face 116b.

LII

FIG. 5 of the drawing illustrated the structural arrangement for allowing convenient removal of the pressure cartridge holder means 116. As shown, the breach lock 114 is provided with internal walls 114 defining a slotted cavity 146. When the trip pin 128 is moved out of the slot 148 in the breach lock 114, the pressure cartridge holder means 116 may be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 150 until the first end 1 16' thereof is aligned with the slot 146. This allows the first end 1 16 to be withdrawn therethrough and the expended cartridge may then be removed from the first walls 132 and a new pressure cartridge installed, and the pressure cartridge holder means may be reinstalled.

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may find many variations and adaptations thereof and the appended claims are intended to cover all such variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A fluid actuated dehorning tool arrangement comprising, in combination:

a pair of rail means in spaced parallel relationship and having a first end and a second end;

a fixed blade coupled to said pair of rail means adjacent said first end thereof;

a moving blade slidingly mounted in said pair of rail means for reciprocating motion between said first end and said second end thereof and adapted to pass in horn severing relationship to said fixed blade;

a tubular barrel means having a first end coupled to said second end of said pair of rail means and a second end spaced therefrom;

a piston slidingly mounted in fluid tight relationship in said tubular barrel means for reciprocating motion therein between said first end and said second end of said tubular barrel means, and said piston having a connecting end and a pressure end;

a connecting rod extending between said piston and said moving blade, and said connecting rod having:

a' first universal joint coupling means for coupling said moving blade thereto; and

a second universal joint coupling means for coupling said connecting end of said piston thereto;

and fluid pressure generating means for generating a high pressure fluid adjacent said pressure end of said piston to provide a first predetermined force thereon for driving said piston in said tubular barrel means from said second end towards said first end thereof to drive said moving blade in said pair of rail means from said second end to said first end and into said horn severing relationshp to said fixed blade.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein:

said first universal joint coupling means and said second universal joint coupling means are each ball joint connections.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid pressure generating means further comprises:

gas pressure generating means and said high pressure fluid is a high pressure gas.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 and further comprises:

energy absorbing means for engaging said moving blade to absorb kinetic energy therefrom for the condition of said moving blade moving a predetermined distance past said fixed blade.

5. The arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein said energy absorbing means further comprises:

a resilient pad means couple to said pair of rail means adjacent to said first end thereof and spaced outwardly from said fixed blade.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising:

restraining means coupled to said pair of rail means for restraining said moving blade adjacent said second end of said pair of rail means and exerting a second predetermined force less than first predetermined force thereon.

7. The arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein said restraining means further comprises:

a spring loaded ball detent means.

8. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein said gas pressure generating means further comprises:

a breach block positioned against said second end of said tubular barrel means and said breach block having a first end in gas tight sealing relationship thereto and a second end spaced from said first end, and walls defining a pressure cartridge receiving aperture extending therethrough from said first end to said second end thereof and communicating with said pressure end of said piston;

breach lock means coupled to said second end of tubular barrel means and engaging said breach lock means for holding said breach lock in said gas tight sealing relationship;

pressure cartridge holder means removable positionable in a first position adjacent said second end of said breack block for holding a pressure cartridge in said pressure cartridge receiving aperture thereof;

holding means engaging said pressure cartridge holder means for detachably holding said pressure cartridge holder means in said first position thereof; and

firing pin means adjacent said pressure cartridge holder means for firing said pressure cartridge to generate said high pressure gas.

9. The arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein said first universal joint coupling means and said second universal joint coupling means are each ball joint connections.

10. The arrangement defined in claim 9 and further comprising:

energy absorbing means for engaging said moving blade to absorb kinetic energy therefrom for the condition of said moving blade moving a predetermined distance post said fixed blade. 

1. A fluid actuated dehorning tool arrangement comprising, in combination: a pair of rail means in spaced parallel relationship and having a first end and a second end; a fixed blade coupled to said pair of rail means adjacent said first end thereof; a moving blade slidingly mounted in said pair of rail means for reciprocating motion between said first end and said second end thereof and adapted to pass in horn severing relationship to said fixed blade; a tubular barrel means having a first end coupled to said second end of said pair of rail Means and a second end spaced therefrom; a piston slidingly mounted in fluid tight relationship in said tubular barrel means for reciprocating motion therein between said first end and said second end of said tubular barrel means, and said piston having a connecting end and a pressure end; a connecting rod extending between said piston and said moving blade, and said connecting rod having: a first universal joint coupling means for coupling said moving blade thereto; and a second universal joint coupling means for coupling said connecting end of said piston thereto; and fluid pressure generating means for generating a high pressure fluid adjacent said pressure end of said piston to provide a first predetermined force thereon for driving said piston in said tubular barrel means from said second end towards said first end thereof to drive said moving blade in said pair of rail means from said second end to said first end and into said horn severing relationshp to said fixed blade.
 2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein: said first universal joint coupling means and said second universal joint coupling means are each ball joint connections.
 3. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid pressure generating means further comprises: gas pressure generating means and said high pressure fluid is a high pressure gas.
 4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 and further comprises: energy absorbing means for engaging said moving blade to absorb kinetic energy therefrom for the condition of said moving blade moving a predetermined distance past said fixed blade.
 5. The arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein said energy absorbing means further comprises: a resilient pad means couple to said pair of rail means adjacent to said first end thereof and spaced outwardly from said fixed blade.
 6. The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising: restraining means coupled to said pair of rail means for restraining said moving blade adjacent said second end of said pair of rail means and exerting a second predetermined force less than first predetermined force thereon.
 7. The arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein said restraining means further comprises: a spring loaded ball detent means.
 8. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein said gas pressure generating means further comprises: a breach block positioned against said second end of said tubular barrel means and said breach block having a first end in gas tight sealing relationship thereto and a second end spaced from said first end, and walls defining a pressure cartridge receiving aperture extending therethrough from said first end to said second end thereof and communicating with said pressure end of said piston; breach lock means coupled to said second end of tubular barrel means and engaging said breach lock means for holding said breach lock in said gas tight sealing relationship; pressure cartridge holder means removable positionable in a first position adjacent said second end of said breack block for holding a pressure cartridge in said pressure cartridge receiving aperture thereof; holding means engaging said pressure cartridge holder means for detachably holding said pressure cartridge holder means in said first position thereof; and firing pin means adjacent said pressure cartridge holder means for firing said pressure cartridge to generate said high pressure gas.
 9. The arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein said first universal joint coupling means and said second universal joint coupling means are each ball joint connections.
 10. The arrangement defined in claim 9 and further comprising: energy absorbing means for engaging said moving blade to absorb kinetic energy therefrom for the condition of said moving blade moving a predetermined distance post said fixed blade. 